Youri Tielemans has scored the latest goal in the history of the men’s World Cup, and he did it to drag Belgium through.
The Belgium captain converted a penalty 124 minutes and 44 seconds into Wednesday’s round-of-32 tie with Senegal in Seattle — the fifth minute of added time at the very end of extra time.
It settled a wild 3-2 comeback. Senegal led 2-0 with four minutes of normal time left before Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans forced extra time, and Tielemans then held his nerve from the spot after a lengthy VAR review, to break the record and set up a last-16 meeting with the United States.
The latest World Cup goals this century after Tielemans winner
Tielemans’ penalty, timed at 124:44, is comfortably the latest goal ever scored in a men’s World Cup match. The previous benchmark had sat in the 121st minute since 2006. Here is how the new record stacks up against the latest goals that came before it.
Youri Tielemans — Belgium 3-2 Senegal, 2026 (124:44)
The new record. His spot-kick in the fifth minute of extra-time stoppage completed Belgium’s recovery from 2-0 down and knocked Senegal out in the round of 32. It came after one of the longest VAR checks of the tournament for a foul by Lamine Camara.
Alessandro Del Piero — Italy 2-0 Germany, 2006 (120’+1)
The mark to beat for two decades. Del Piero swept home in the 121st minute of the semifinal in Dortmund, moments after Fabio Grosso had broken the deadlock, to send Italy to a final they went on to win.
Abdelmoumene Djabou — Germany 2-1 Algeria, 2014 (120’+1)
A late consolation that matched Del Piero’s timing. Djabou struck in the 121st minute of the round-of-16 tie in Porto Alegre, though it was not enough as eventual champions Germany held on after extra time.
Fabio Grosso — Italy 2-0 Germany, 2006 (119′)
The goal that finally cracked Germany, a minute before Del Piero’s. Grosso curled one in during the 119th minute of that same semifinal, with a penalty shootout looming.
Andrés Iniesta — Spain 1-0 Netherlands, 2010 (116′)
The most important late goal, and it’s not close. Iniesta’s 116th-minute finish in the Johannesburg final won Spain their only World Cup title.
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